Published: Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 11:05 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 12:36 a.m.

DAYTONA BEACH -- As the rest of the Mainland Buccaneers football team headed off of the practice field Tuesday evening, one group stayed behind.

Facts

Friday's Playoff Games

CLASS 2A STATE SEMIFINALJacksonville University Christian (11-1) at Warner Christian (11-1) 7:30 p.m.-- Tickets are $9; $10 reserved seating.CLASS 6A REGIONAL FINALMainland (9-3) at Naples (11-0) 7:30 p.m.-- Naples athletic director Ernie Modugno is encouraging all Mainland fans to arrive early. Modugno said the Golden Hurricanes' stadium seats just 4,000. He said the school is having an extra 1,000 seats brought in for the game, and he wants everyone to get a seat.-- Tickets: $8.-- Directions: Take I-4 West for 123 miles and merge on to I-75 S (Exit 9 toward Naples/Brandon). Take I-75 south for 157 miles, turn off on Exit 105 onto County Road 886. Go a half mile and turn right on to Golden Gate Parkway. Take it 3.6 miles and turn right on Golden Eagle Circle. Drive 100 feet and take first left on to Golden Eagle Circle (stadium is at the school).

Huddled near midfield, the defensive backs listened intently as assistant coach Travis Roland went through some final points. The Bucs (9-3) hit the road to take on Naples (11-0) on Friday night in the Class 6A regional finals. A win advances them to a showdown against the winner of the Palm Bay-Miami Central game next week for the right to play for the state title at the Florida Citrus Bowl on Dec. 15.

Naples threw only four times in last week's 42-21 win over South Fort Myers, but Roland wants his group ready.

“Coaches watch film,” Roland said. “They see how young we are and how vulnerable we are to big plays in certain situations.”

That showed in Mainland's 34-33 second-round playoff win over Winter Haven last Friday. The Blue Devils featured standout receiver Kendrick Holland, and they went to him early for a 66-yard touchdown and late for a 31-yard score.

Holland and the Devils battled a Mainland defensive backfield that includes sophomores Bryan Gregory and Arthur Westbrook, junior Dwayne Copeland and senior Lavonte Howard, and discovered that along with youth, the foursome features resiliency.

After getting beat by Holland on the 66-yard touchdown pass, Copeland helped set up Mainland's second touchdown when he intercepted Winter Haven's Luke Borders. And with Mainland on the brink of elimination, Westbrook picked off Borders with 2:24 to go to set up the game-winning drive for the Buccaneers. It was Westbrook's first interception of the season.

“They had been asking me the whole season to make a play,” said the 6-foot, 170-pound Westbrook. “I just had to step up, and when I did it felt really good.”

Howard said “believe” was the mantra of the night, especially leading up to Westbrook's big play.

“We just kept saying that over and over, ‘You have to believe,' ” Howard said.

He said that the group rebounded, in part because of its shared belief and also because of a challenge from quarterback Cameron Hadley.

Howard recalled Hadley asking, "Who is going to be the one to step up and make the play?"

"I wanted to be that guy,” Howard said.

In fact, all four of the Bucs' starting defensive backs said they wanted to be the guy to answer the challenge. And, on the field, Gregory said the change in play was noticeable.

“It felt good to see us start to break on balls and not be afraid of something bad happening,” he said.

“We played to our full potential,” Westbrook said. “Everybody that was there -- the players, fans, coaches -- believed in us and we got it done.”

And Roland said the pickup in play was not limited to the starting four. He said sophomores J.T. Davis and Meiko Dotson and junior Chris Scott play a lot and bring talent to the table.

Which is why, a year after Mainland sent Rick Rumph from its secondary to West Virginia University, and Deonte Wilson to Florida International, Roland said the future of the Bucs' secondary is bright.

“Sky is the limit,” Roland said. “Copeland is the prototype with the long arms. He is rangy, and he has great hands. Lavonte Howard has great speed. Meiko Dotson jumps out of the gym. A.J. Westbrook, look at his frame … the sky is the limit. Bryan Gregory is a good player.

<p><b> DAYTONA BEACH </b> -- As the rest of the Mainland Buccaneers football team headed off of the practice field Tuesday evening, one group stayed behind. <ep></p><p>Huddled near midfield, the defensive backs listened intently as assistant coach Travis Roland went through some final points. The Bucs (9-3) hit the road to take on Naples (11-0) on Friday night in the Class 6A regional finals. A win advances them to a showdown against the winner of the Palm Bay-Miami Central game next week for the right to play for the state title at the Florida Citrus Bowl on Dec. 15.<ep></p><p>Naples threw only four times in last week's 42-21 win over South Fort Myers, but Roland wants his group ready. <ep></p><p>“Coaches watch film,” Roland said. “They see how young we are and how vulnerable we are to big plays in certain situations.” <ep></p><p>That showed in Mainland's 34-33 second-round playoff win over Winter Haven last Friday. The Blue Devils featured standout receiver Kendrick Holland, and they went to him early for a 66-yard touchdown and late for a 31-yard score. <ep></p><p>Holland and the Devils battled a Mainland defensive backfield that includes sophomores Bryan Gregory and Arthur Westbrook, junior Dwayne Copeland and senior Lavonte Howard, and discovered that along with youth, the foursome features resiliency. <ep></p><p>After getting beat by Holland on the 66-yard touchdown pass, Copeland helped set up Mainland's second touchdown when he intercepted Winter Haven's Luke Borders. And with Mainland on the brink of elimination, Westbrook picked off Borders with 2:24 to go to set up the game-winning drive for the Buccaneers. It was Westbrook's first interception of the season. <ep></p><p>“They had been asking me the whole season to make a play,” said the 6-foot, 170-pound Westbrook. “I just had to step up, and when I did it felt really good.” <ep></p><p>Howard said “believe” was the mantra of the night, especially leading up to Westbrook's big play. <ep></p><p>“We just kept saying that over and over, 'You have to believe,' ” Howard said. <ep></p><p>He said that the group rebounded, in part because of its shared belief and also because of a challenge from quarterback Cameron Hadley. <ep></p><p>Howard recalled Hadley asking, "Who is going to be the one to step up and make the play?"</p><p>"I wanted to be that guy,” Howard said. <ep></p><p>In fact, all four of the Bucs' starting defensive backs said they wanted to be the guy to answer the challenge. And, on the field, Gregory said the change in play was noticeable. <ep></p><p>“It felt good to see us start to break on balls and not be afraid of something bad happening,” he said. <ep></p><p>“We played to our full potential,” Westbrook said. “Everybody that was there -- the players, fans, coaches -- believed in us and we got it done.” <ep></p><p>And Roland said the pickup in play was not limited to the starting four. He said sophomores J.T. Davis and Meiko Dotson and junior Chris Scott play a lot and bring talent to the table. <ep></p><p>Which is why, a year after Mainland sent Rick Rumph from its secondary to West Virginia University, and Deonte Wilson to Florida International, Roland said the future of the Bucs' secondary is bright. <ep></p><p>“Sky is the limit,” Roland said. “Copeland is the prototype with the long arms. He is rangy, and he has great hands. Lavonte Howard has great speed. Meiko Dotson jumps out of the gym. A.J. Westbrook, look at his frame … the sky is the limit. Bryan Gregory is a good player. <ep> </p><p>“We have the chance to be great.” <ep></p>